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Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz was supposed to start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Thursday night. But now, thanks to a blister on his middle finger, he will start on Saturday, with Jason Vargas starting in his stead on Thursday.
Matz has bounced back after a rough April. Since the start of May, he’s posted a 2.68 ERA over seven starts, striking out 28. He has, however, walked 17 batters in that span and given up six home runs. He’s had a blister before, back in his rookie season in 2015, and it was also on his middle finger.
Vargas’s struggles have been widely acknowledged this season, with his rotation spot seemingly always on the edge of evaporating. He pitched okay in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles on June 5, giving up just two runs over five innings, which lowered his season ERA to 7.71.